Sounds Like San Diego: Feb. 21

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I don't know what the San Diego music scene would be like without Steve Poltz. I was first familiar with the Rugburns because I would stay up late nights to record Lou Niles on Loudspeaker. In my senior year of high school, Steve came to my school to run through the history of music as it tied to history. By the end of the first two hours, however, it was just a jam session of Steve making up songs on the spot with the names of my classmates. We've seen Steve solo, with the Rugburns, singing national anthems, and touring the world, one house at a time, so we all freaked out a little when we heard last fall about Steve's stroke. All these years later, and I'm honored and privileged to call Steve a friend. And because of the way he is, this sort of fireball of coolness and kindness, many others call him a friend, too. That's why he gets such a huge birthday bash that sells out year after year. He's an incredible musician and deserves all the celebrating that will be done on Saturday at the Belly Up in his honor.